Muddy farmer Matt proves just what the doctor ordered

‘Down to earth’ doctor Liz finds long lasting muddy love with Herefordshire beef farmer after meeting online

“Sorry I’m late. I had to take my Springer Spaniel bitch to Ludlow to a see a dog as she had come on heat! She is definitely all enthusiasm but no skill!”

As excuses go, farmer Matt’s reasoning for being late to the pub to meet his Muddy Match for the first time was as genuinely muddy as they come.

Then again, it didn’t deter 70% Muddy, NHS worker Liz in the slightest… the pair have now been together over 6 years and have just become parents for the second time.

It’s another perfect example how mud-inspired farmer love, where there’s mutual appreciation of the lifestyle, is a strong bond indeed.

Matt, an active local YFC member in his heyday and shooting enthusiast, joined Muddy Matches in 2012, looking to unearth someone likeminded who ‘didn’t mind getting her hands dirty and enjoyed the countryside’.

It was with this in mind that he made the first move and messaged Liz, a Labrador-owning, ‘down-to-earth’ doctor looking to ‘re-address’ the work-life balance’. He was quick out of the traps too; landing in her inbox just days after she had signed up.

“The other half works for the NHS but has an interest in horses and enjoys being out on the farm when she can. I’d say Liz is reasonably muddy.

“I’m fairly muddy most days, “laid back Matt tells us. “I farm limousine suckler beef cattle, pigs, and arable with a few sheep in the mix too.

After 12 day and over 60 messages exchanged between the pair online – in which they chatted Top Gun, breeding cross breed pups, Matt’s swollen hand, weaning foals and rounding sheep up in the rain – Matt and Liz agreed on a drink in a Hereford pub on 7 February.

They never looked back.

“We’ve been together six years now and we’ve just had our second child. Keeping our eldest occupied keeps us pretty muddy too. He loves tractors. There’s no doubt, in time the new-born will end being muddy too.”

“Liz has been working from home and we have survived seeing each other 24/7 so it can’t be too bad.” Matt says. “We can hopefully get a few days away somewhere when things start to open up.”

And as for the farmer’s expert advice to people cautious about jumping into online dating feet first with both muddy boots on show; “Give it a go and just message people. I’ve got some good friends through Muddy Matches, as well as Liz.”